The Planning Commission on Oct. 6 denied a request to allow a massage-therapy business, Renaissance Retreat, at 519 East Butler Street, voting unanimously to reject the use variance.

The variance would have allowed owner Mary Valdez to convert the former American Legion building back to a commercial use for a spa operated by Valdez and one additional employee. Commissioners voted, with a second recorded from Commissioner Bob, to deny the variance after hearing neighborhood opposition and correspondence including a 30-signature petition against the change.

The request described operations as appointment-based, with at most two employees and two clients at a time; the applicant estimated “four cars there at 1 time, you know, 6, if a new client arrives while the old one's still in there,” and hours of operation “somewhere around between 7AM to 7PM.” City staff said the applicant, Mary Valdez, was not present; David Hawkins attended to represent her.

Members of the public said they opposed the change because of traffic and neighborhood character. Duke Cutchens, speaking from across the street, said, “I live directly across the street, and... None of them want the commercial. They don't want the traffic.” He also raised concerns about resale values: “And if you go to sell your property, it's gonna devaluate that.”

David Hawkins, speaking for the applicant, pushed back on the traffic argument, noting the property’s prior use: “As far as the concern with the traffic, when you think about the legion that was there, there was certainly a lot more traffic... Her business is based on appointments.” Hawkins reiterated that most activity would be by appointment and that product sales would be limited to spa-related items.

Commissioners discussed the limits of the variance if it had passed. Staff clarified that the approval would be limited to the spa use as described and that any substantially different commercial use would require return to the commission. Commissioners cited the petition and neighborhood opposition in explaining their vote.

Outcome: The motion to deny carried (recorded votes: Chair — yes; Commissioner Bob — yes; Commissioner Bridal — yes; Commissioner Jack — yes; Commissioner Mayer — yes; Commissioner Tyson — yes). The commission asked staff to record a contact phone number for the applicant’s representative before the hearing concluded.

The decision was limited to the variance as presented; no further action was taken on the property during the meeting.